Surfing Champ Mick Fanning Fights Off Shark Attack During Competition

Three-time world surfing champion Mick Fanning of Australia fought off a shark attack with his fists during a competition Sunday In South Africa.

The J-Bay Open, part of the World Surf League championship tour, was called off after event officials rescued Fanning, 34, on jet skis.

"I had this instinct that something was behind me," Fanning said of the World Surf League broadcast. "Then, the thing came up. I saw the whole thing just thrashing around. I was getting dragged under by my leg rope. I felt like I punched it a couple of times."